Open de France

[Stanley]

Round 1 play (4pts):

Kenneth Ferrie to beat Rafael Cabrera-Bello -105 @ FiveDimes
Opposing Cabrera-Bello who is due a poor round after his exploits in the last two weeks. He couldn't get on a flight to the U.S. Open because there was a problem with his passport so he had to go to Madrid and apply for another one; he then arrived in California, but his clubs didn't (they were in Philadelphia); playing in his first Major, he was leading the U.S. Open when he came off the course in the first round; despite a third round 81, he finished 47th which meant he couldn't get back in time for the Open qualifier the next day; while he started slowly the following Thursday, he managed to finish 3rd in the BMW International Open. I can't see anything other than a poor opening round from an exhausted Cabrera-Bello, particularly as his four previous rounds here have been 71, 80, 75 and 78. Ferrie should make a very strong opponent as he also finished 3rd last week (but was fresh from not playing the previous week) and has finished 3rd and 6th here.

[unofficial rd1 system plays: Hansen S tb Molinari E -110; Storm tb Gallacher -111; Kjeldsen tb Davies -110; Jimenez tb Molinari E +115; Karlsson tb Davies -120; Larrazabal tb Molinari E -120; Ogilvy tb Davies +110; Webster tb Wilson +110; Larrazabal tb Horsey -111; Slocum tb Wood -111]

 

[JimmyTime]

outrights

Havret 50/1 to win only
Canizares 60/1 e.w
Colsaerts 125/1 e.w
Pablo Larrazabal 80/1 to win only

 

[DerrickTulips]

Kaymer +115 over Westwood

Martin Kaymer is expecting to lay down another strong challenge at the Alstom Open de France as, by his own admission, the course suits the way he strikes his golf balls.

The German won the European Tour event 12 months ago when beating Lee Westwood in a play-off and followed up with another victory in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

He is in for a tough battle if he wants to successfully defend his title with Westwood, Angel Cabrera, Ian Poulter, Geoff Ogilvy and Mizuno golf equipment user Luke Donald in the field.

However, he is optimistic that he may go close again because of the way the course at Le Golf National is set up.

He told the European Tour website: "I love the course at the Golf National. It is one of my favourite places to play and I suppose you could say that it is a typical Kaymer course.

"You have to be focused around there. You have to keep the ball in very exact spots to be able to make a score and that is one of my main strengths -controlling my round."

The 25-year-old has witnessed success on the European Tour on five occasions in the past and currently lies in 11th spot in golf's world rankings.

Lee Westwood will make a decision tomorrow morning on whether to play in tomorrow's first round of the French Open after being taken to hospital today amid fears he had a blood clot in his right leg.

The Englishman, ranked No3 in the world, pulled out of the pre-tournament pro-am in Paris after waking up to discover swelling in both his calf and his ankle. There were concerns he might have a deep vein thrombosis brought on by inordinate air travel that has become part of the routine for top-class professional golfers.

However, tests revealed the golfer was suffering only from a muscle strain, his manager, Andrew Chandler of International Sports Management, said.

"We have had a couple of DVTs recently with some of the people who work for us, so obviously we like to keep a close eye on these things,'' Chandler said. "Lee will see how he feels in the morning, and if there is still a problem he won't play. But long-term this isn't an issue."

Nevertheless, the injury is a setback for Westwood, who will travel to St Andrews next month as a former winner of the Dunhill Links Championship, which is staged at the home of golf, and as one of the favourites for the Open.

 

[DerrickTulips]

"I was practising at Woburn on Monday and got bitten by a horsefly or something. It was swollen yesterday and when I put my hand in my pocket I felt a big lump on my groin and knew it wasn't right,'' he said. "I went to the doctors, was given antibiotics and decided I was well enough to fly this morning, but that's probably not done it any good."

Like Westwood, Poulter will wait until tomorrow morning to make a decision on whether to play. "Hopefully I'll be OK, but walking for five hours is not going to do it any good and nor is the heat."

 

[lostinamerica]

Outrights:

Raphael Jacquelin(80/1) e.w.
Ross McGowan(150/1) e.w.
Charl Schwartzel(18/1) e.w.
Chris Wood(50/1) e.w.
DannyWillett(60/1) e.w.

GL

 

[Chip Hilton]

Alstom Open de France : Outrights to Win.

Alstom Open de France : Outrights to Win.

Alstom Open de France --
Outrights to Win Tournament for 72 holes
for Thursday, July 1st to Sunday, July 4th.


Two and a half Units :

Martin Kaymer to Win @ 20 : 1. L Tied for sixth.


Two Units :

Luke Donald to Win @ 20 : 1. L Tied for eleventh.


One and a half Units :

Charl Schwartzel to Win @ 25 : 1. L Tied for 32nd.


One Unit :

Francesco Molinari to Win @ 35 : 1. L FINISHED SECOND IN THREEWAY PLAYOFF.


Half a Unit :

Heath Slocum to Win @ 52 : 1. L

.

 

[Chip Hilton]

Alstom Open de France : 72 Hole Matchups.

Alstom Open de France : 72 Hole Matchups.

Alstom Open de France --
Whole Tournament Matchups for 72 holes
for Thursday, July 1st to Sunday, July 4th.


Five Units each :

Luke Donald over Rory McIlroy @ - 115. Lost by four.

Francesco Molinari over Edoardo Molinari @ - 125. Won by eleven.

.

 

[Another Steve]

ODDS TO WIN THE ALSTON OPEN DE FRANCE HEATH SLOCUM +5000

 

[Stanley]

Round 2 play (4pts):

James Kamte to beat Tommy Fleetwood -125 @ FiveDimes
Opposing Fleetwood after the exhausting fortnight that he has just experienced: two weeks ago, he was the leading medallist in the Amateur Championship, but lost his match in the last 16 round; he then travelled to Chantilly where he secured his place in this event in a 36-hole qualifer; he then played in the Brabazon Trophy that week where he was the first round leader, but fell back thereafter. Fatigue was acknowledged to be a factor last week and it could easily be the case tomorrow as he seeks to follow up his opening 71. Either way, he will have to play at least as well to again match Kamte who would have finished the day in the top-20 but for a seven at the 14th hole. He has been playing well in South Africa in the last couple of months and was the first round leader here in 2007 so should certainly be able to build on his opening 71.

[unofficial rd system plays: Zanotti tb Derksen +170; Fisher tb Molinari E -113; Donald tb Kaymer +120; Willett tb Molinari E +100; Ogilvy tb Davies +100; Cabrera A tb Havret -105; Jimenez tb Molinari E +120; Noh tb Colsaerts -110; Dredge tb Bourdy +140; Jaidee tb Larrazabal -118]

 

[Stanley]

Round 3 play (2pts):

Geoff Ogilvy to beat Soren Kjeldsen +100 @ FiveDimes
Backing Ogilvy to continue the momentum that he showed today. Struggling to make the cut, he birdied three of the last five holes to make it on the mark. Kjeldsen made the weekend with an extra shot to spare, but he has been struggling with his game this week, ranking 121st in greens in regulation, so even though he does have a good record on this course, he should once again struggle to break par on Saturday.

 

[Stanley]

Round 4 play (2pts):

Luke Donald to beat Martin Kaymer +120 @ Stan James [also available @ FiveDimes, Pinnacle and Paddy Power]
Opposing Kaymer even though he does have a good record when leading with one round to play: he has held the lead six times on the European Tour after 54 holes and won three times. However, two of those wins came following six shot leads with 18 holes to play, though he did need a playoff to win the 2008 BMW International Open from that position. But these are two players moving in opposite directions this week: every round has been higher than the last for Kaymer, while every round has been lower than the last for Donald. So, with Donald having finished 2nd, 1st and 3rd in his last three European Tour events and now only two shots behind Kaymer, I'd expect him to put some pressure on the leader tomorrow.

[unofficial rd4 system plays: Storm tb Ferrie +100; Willett tb Storm -119; Lawrie Pe tb Maybin +105; McIlroy tb Schwartzel -109; Lynn tb Finch -118; Storm tb Bourdy -105]

 

[DerrickTulips]

:0corn